His Rejected Omega

Nine

Kane

The meeting hall of Blackridge Manor glowed beneath the warm light of morning, but the air inside was anything but pleasant.

The scent of tension was thick enough to taste…sharp, metallic, and laced with barely contained hostility.

It was supposed to be a simple breakfast with families. Our first official gathering as Alpha and Luna, but of course, nothing involving my family was ever simple.

Ella sat gracefully beside me, her posture perfect, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She was the picture of calm elegance, though I could feel the steady thrum of her pulse through the bond.

Her wolf, small but fierce, stood its ground even as the room brimmed with scrutiny.

Across from us sat Janet, my late uncle’s widow, the real puppeteer of this pack’s political theater.

Every word that left her painted lips carried poison disguised as sugar.

She had been the matriarch in all but name ever since my father, Jarett, stepped down from leading the Blackridge Council due to his health. And she wasn’t about to give up that power easily…not even to me.

I leaned back in my chair, keeping my expression neutral as Janet’s icy gaze flitted from me to Ella.

“Luna Ella,” she began smoothly, her tone sweet enough to rot fruit, “I must admit, I didn’t expect you to be so… composed. Most new brides in your position would’ve been crushed by the pressure already.”

Ella gave a polite nod. “Pressure builds strength, doesn’t it?”

A flicker of irritation crossed Janet’s perfect face.

Her wolf, a pale gray thing with cold eyes flared faintly beneath.

I could tell she wasn’t used to being countered, especially not by someone she thought beneath her.

Janet smoothed her hair, her voice low and deliberate. “You see, Ella, I spent some time looking into you. You weren’t raised in our kind of world. No lineage, no high connections. No proper upbringing for leadership. Quite the contrast to… what we had envisioned.”

Ella tilted her head slightly. “Oh? And what did you envision?”

Janet’s lips curved. “My niece Paige was supposed to be Kane’s Luna. But you came along instead, a last-minute replacement, which you are,” She paused and her eyes searched the table as if in search of her supposed niece. “....And it caused… quite a stir among the city and the pack. Even the local council couldn’t keep the rumors from spreading.”

She sighed theatrically. “The stock value of the Darius and Black enterprises dipped two points overnight. Not to mention the gossip-people questioning your worth as Luna. I’m sure you’ve seen it on every platform.”

Ella smiled faintly. “Actually, I haven’t really kept up with the news lately.”

That one sentence hit Janet harder than a physical blow.

The faint twitch in her temple told me she wasn’t expecting calm defiance.

She’d planned to humiliate Ella in front of everyone to make her lose her composure so the elders would dismiss her as weak or unfit.

But Ella’s cool indifference was like a slap of its own.

I hid my amusement behind a sip of tea. My mate had more bite than anyone gave her credit for.

Janet recovered quickly, plastering on her flawless smile. “Then allow me to help you, dear. As the new Luna, it’s your duty to protect this pack’s reputation. You should release a statement to clarify things… assure the city that Kane didn’t make a… rash decision.”

Her eyes gleamed. “It’s the least you could do for the family.”

The veiled insult was obvious.

I felt my wolf stir beneath my skin, claws itching to defend her. But Ella only nodded thoughtfully, refusing to take the bait.

Janet wasn’t done. “Of course, I’m saying this because I want to help you grow into your new role. Managing this family, this pack, it’s a massive responsibility. You’ll need guidance and experience…. you know… a steady hand.”

Before Ella could respond, a young voice piped up from the far end of the table.

“What makes her even qualified enough to lead anything?”